Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has urged Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to step back from seeking election in Nigeria.
Fayose made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, emphasizing that Abubakar should move on from his long history of electoral defeats.
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Atiku Abubakar has made several attempts to secure the presidency, running in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, with three of those attempts ending in primary losses.
Fayose remarked, “With all due respect to him, at this stage, he would probably prefer to stay away from the politics of contesting elections again.”
Fayose noted that by the next election cycle, Abubakar will be around 80 years old, suggesting that the allure of holding the highest office may not be as compelling at that age.
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“By the time Bola Tinubu finishes his term, Atiku Abubakar will likely be 80 or 81. So what will be the attraction?” Fayose queried.
He added, “We should leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. I respect him, but Nigerians are yearning for a younger generation in leadership.”
Despite this, Atiku has expressed optimism about his prospects for the 2027 presidential elections, stating to Voice of America Hausa in May that he would not give up on his aspirations.
“God willing,” he said when asked if he would run again, adding that he would continue to pursue the presidency “as long as God gives me strength, good health, and long life.”
He also pointed out the example of Abraham Lincoln, who contested multiple times before eventually winning the presidency.
On the state of the PDP, Fayose lamented that the party’s once-strong structures have collapsed, allowing figures like Peter Obi of the Labour Party to emerge as a more recognizable voice of the opposition.
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He stated, “We can defeat the APC, but if we don’t have a party, how can we do that?”
He emphasized that when complaints are made about the APC but the PDP lacks cohesion, it diminishes the party’s credibility. “Obi is now the voice of the opposition.”
“The press will call him before they reach out to the PDP, especially with the ongoing suspensions within our party,” he said, highlighting the urgency for the PDP to regain its footing.
